Lumber-carrier



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. T. KELLIHER.

LUMBER CARRIER.

M A Q .TWA W. e

{No.Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

A. T. KELLIHER.

' LUMBER CARRIER.

No. 448,766. Patented Mar. 24, 1891.

Wiigesszs UNTTED STATES PATENT @FFICE f ALFRED T. KELLIHER, OF BETHEL,MAINE.

LU M BER-CARRI ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,766, dated March24, 1891.

Application filed July 12,1890. Serial No. 358,566. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED 'l. KELLIHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bethel, in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, haveinvented a new and useful Lumber-Carrier, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to wood-sawing, and is more especially a saw-millappliance or logcarrier adapted to convey logs from the points where thetrees are felled to the saw-mill or to othcrsuitable points; and theobject of the invention is to provide an improved device of thischaracter, all as hereinafter more fully described, and illustrated inthe drawings, in which Figure 1 is a general elevation of a section ofmy improved lumber-carrying track, showing in perspective threedifferent forms of hangers by which it may be attached to and supportedby trees of different sizes or by a frame-work. Figs. 2, 3, and 4C areside elevations of the hangers for large trees, small trees, andframe-works, respectively. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the hanger shown inFig. 3 with the grappling-hooks which embrace the trunk of a small tree.Fig. 6 is an end view of one of the trucks of the log-carriage Figs. 7and 8 are respective details of the clamps I prefer to use fortightening the track and holding it tight. Fig. 9 is a side elevation ofthe form of foot which I preferably use where the track is to be carriedaround a curve.

Referring to the said drawings, M is the track, which is composed,preferably, of wire rope, and is supported by hangers A, B, or L, asshown in Fig. 1. The end of the rope M is secured to the clamp Q, asshown in Fig. 8, passes thence around a tree, and thence through atransverse groove S in the other plate of said clamp, this plate beingsecured to the first plate by bolts R, thence over the several hangers Aor B, secured to and projecting from the trees in a forest, or, if thetrees be scarce or very small, over hangers L, supported by a frameworkT, built of rough material, as will be readily understood. To the otherend of the rope is attached a clamp N, having an upper member 0 securedthereto by bolts P, both members having rough ened grooves 7.1, whichbite the rope and prevent its slipping therein. A powerful tension orpin I being passed through the tree and through the eye 1') to hold thehanger in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The hanger B is constructed in substantially the same manner, exceptthat its eye l) is smaller and does not enter the trunk of the tree. 0 Oare grappling-hooks, having eyes 0 in their butt-ends, through whichpasses a bolt J, also passing through the eye I), and held in place by apin K. The points of these grappling-hooks take into the tree-trunk onopposite sides, as shown in Fig. 1,and in this manner my improvedlumber-carrier can be supported by small trees as well as by large treeson hangers A, as above described. The points a are firmly embedded inthe treetrunk, in order to prevent lateral displacementof the hangers.

The hanger L consists of a stout L-shaped bar having a threaded upperend, which passes through the head-block of the framework T of anysuitable construction, or which may pass through an overhanging limb, ifit should be necessary to support the track M in this manner, in orderas much as possible to avoid diverting it from a straight line, which isundesirable, and which tracks of this character should followas nearlyas practicable. Upon the threaded end of this bar is passed a nut L,whereby the hanger L is supported, but may be adjusted to take up slackin the rope M.

The foot of each hanger is provided with a groove g, in which rests thetrack-rope M, as shown in Fig. 2. A hole h passes vertically throughsaid foot in the bottom of the groove.

The strands of the rope M are slightly separated, an d a wire fasteningm is passed through the hole h and between the strands and twisted, asshown, whereby the track-rope is prevented from slipping out of thegroove g.

The carriage which supports the log or other lumber which isto beconveyed comprises two similar trucks, each consisting of a metallicframe D, bent over and around a grooved sheave G, which is jonrnaledtherein on a transverse pin II, and a hook E, swivelcd in the bent lowerend or foot, has a head F resting on the upper face of said foot (7. Tothis hook E is connected a chain passing around the log or bundle oflumber which is to be carried.

My improved lumber-carrier may be of great length and may extend for along distance through a forest to the mill, where sawing is to be done,or to the river, the road, or the railroad-track, whence the log is tobe floated or carried to a distant point. This lumber-carrier may alsobe employed to carry boards or other lumber from the mill to the trackor river. The hangers are preferably so arranged that the rope .\I willbe as nearly straight as possiblcthat is to say, will make as littlediversion as may be necessary later ally, and if grades are to beascended or descended the hangers can be so arranged that the rise andfall will be very gradual. The log or bundle of lumber is connected tothe hooks E of two trucks, a horse or a team hitched to the log, whichtravels only a foot or two above the ground at points whereby the ropeis supported as low as possible, and the team driven in a foot-path,which will soon be worn directly beneath the rope M. Where the-ground isuneven or rolling, or where the track crosses streams and the like, theteam will be at a considerable distance from the log, and will beconnected by a long tow-line, in order that the horses may pass downthrough the stream, &c., while the log travels along approximately in ahorizontal plane. Where the track M descends rather abrupt grades andthere is danger that the log-carriage may run down the same, a pin orbolt is passed through a hole 3' in one of the sheaves, which pinstrikes the frame I) and prevents the rotation of the sheave. The latterwill therefore slide upon the track, and the carriage will thus bebraked and the team must thus draw the log downhill.

Considerable departure may be made from the specific details of theconstruction above described without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I11 Fig. 9 I have illustrated in side elevation the form of foot which Ipreferably use where the track is to be deflected from a straight line.In this case it will be understood that in addition to the weight of thelog and of the wire rope itself there is a lateral strain brought tobear upon the hanger by reason of the tightness of the wire rope, whichis greatly increased as a log approaches or recedes therefrom betweenthe hanger in question and the hanger next adjacent. In order to resistthis lateral strain and to prevent the track-rope from slipping off thefoot of the hanger, I form the feet as shown in Fig. 9. In thisconstruction the groove 1 is made in the inner face of the foot, whichis considerably bent upward,"and through the hole It in the foot I passthe fastening, which in this case is a curved arm m (taking the place ofthe fastening m of wire, Fig. 2,) which fastening-arm is pivoted on abolt m within said hole. The lower end of this arm has an eye i, throughwhich passes a clip Q, that surrounds the foot of the hanger, and whenthe nuts of this clip are tightened said eye is elevated, and the upperend of the fastening is thrown outwardly toward the groove g. Said upperend of the fasteningis preferably grooved, as shown at g, and the twogrooved ends, with their projecting tongues, take into one or morestrands of the rope, as shown in Fig. i). The track-rope M can thus bedeflected without danger of its disengaging the foot of the hanger.

W'hat I claim is 1. In a lumber-carrier, the combination, with thecarriage, of hangers carried by suitable supports and having grooves gin the outer ends of their feet and vertical holes through said feet,the wire track-rope M, resting in said grooves, and the fastenin sinserted through said holes and engaging the stigands of the traclerope,substantially as do scribed.

2. In a lumber-carrier, the combination, with the carriage, of hangershaving eyes at their upper ends, connections between said eyes and thehanger-supports, points at the lower ends of said hangers entering saidsupports, and a track-rope M, carried by the feet of said hangers, asand for the purpose set forth.

3. In a lumber-carrier, the combination, with the carriage, of hangers Ihaving eyes Z) at their upper ends and points a at their lower ends,grappling-hooks 0, having eyes (3 in their butt-ends, a bolt J, passingthrough all said eyes, said hooks embedding the sides and said point,the face of suitable hangersupports, and a track-rope M, carried by thefeet of the hangers, as set forth.

4. In a lumber-carrier, the combination, with the carriage, of hangerscarried by suitable supports and having grooves g in the inner faces ofthe outer ends of their feet and holes it through said feet, the wiretrackrope M, resting in said grooves, the fastening-arms m pivoted 011pins in in said holes, having grooved upper ends 9 embracing certainstrands of said rope opposite the grooves in the feet and having eyes iin their lower ends, and the clips Q, adjustably connecting said eyeswith the feet of the hangers, sub stantially as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED T. KELLIIIER.

Witnesses:

ADDISON E. IIERRICK, ELLERY C. PARK.

IIO

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